The weekly Barron's Confidence Index is a ratio of the average yield-to-maturity of the Best-Grade bond list compared to the average yield-to-maturity of the Intermediate Grade bond list. The ratio is higher and the bond yield spread narrower as the confidence index rises when investors are confident about the market. The ratio is lower when the intermediate grade average bond yield is rising faster, or at least, falling more slowly than the best-grade bonds. A falling confidence index reflects decreasing confidence in the market. The weekly yield gap reflects the spread between the Barron's Best Grade Bonds yield-to-maturity and the Dow Jones Industrial Average dividend yield.